California Coast

important notes

To complete your vacation, we include roundtrip airport-to-hotel transfers whenpurchasing Collette airfare with your tour. If you have arranged for your own air, we arepleased to provide you the option of purchasing these transfers. Please note that alltransfers will leave at pre-scheduled times.

This tour requires average physical activity. You should be in good health, able to climbstairs and walk reasonable distances.

trip includes

San Francisco

Yosemite National Park

Monterey

17 Mile Drive

Big Sur

Hearst Castle

Solvang

Santa Barbara

Los Angeles

San Diego

things to do

Day 1, 2 Westin St. Francis, San Francisco, CA or Marriott Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA

Day 3 Yosemite Hotel, Yosemite National Park, CA

Day 4 Portola Hotel & Spa, Monterey, CA

Day 5, 6 Hadsten House, Solvang, CA

Day 7, 8 Sheraton Suites San Diego at Symphony Hall, San Diego, CA or Courtyard by Marriott Liberty Station, San Diego, CA On some dates alternate hotels may be used.

Travel Protection

Available for purchase with all Overnights, Available for all Day Tours, Cruises or World Tours...
For your convenience and peace of mind, Travel Protection is Available for purchase on all overnights. Travel Protection can be purchased for any of our Day Tours, Cruises or World Tours. It must be purchased with your reservation if you want it to cover pre-existing conditions. Feel free to ask one of our agents about pricing and more information. Download Policy Details.

From the big cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, to Mother Nature’s masterpiece, Yosemite National Park, you’ll see the sights and landmarks that make California so unforgettable. Witness the majestic Golden Gate Bridge. Tour glorious Hearst Castle and explore some if its 165 rooms and 127 acres. Travel along the breathtaking Big Sur Coast. Stay in the quaint seaside village of Santa Barbara, often called “America’s Riviera." Visit Old Mission Santa Barbara established in 1786 and enjoy the spectacular view of the city from the stunning Courthouse. Stop at Graumann’s Chinese Theatre and see the popular Hollywood Walk of Fame on a tour with a local expert.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive San Francisco, California - Tour BeginsWelcome as you join us on a scenic journey along California’samazing coast. Your tour begins in “the City by the Bay,” SanFrancisco. Enjoy the ambiance of this lively city, known for its ethnicdiversity and unique history.

Day 2: San FranciscoA local guide showcases the popular landmarks of San Francisco,including the Twin Peaks, the Golden Gate Bridge andChinatown. Later, enjoy some leisure time to explore Fisherman’sWharf where you may sample cracked crab and the renownedsourdough French bread. Shop in lively Union Square or visitGhirardelli Square, once the site of one of the largest producers ofchocolate in the country. For a true local experience, ride the famedcable cars up and down San Francisco’s thrilling hills as you sightsee.Today dinner will be included.

Day 3: San Francisco - Yosemite National ParkToday you wind through the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountainsen route to one of Mother Nature's greatest masterpieces,Yosemite National Park. While camping at the park in 1903,President Teddy Roosevelt called Yosemite "the most beautifulplace in the world." Yosemite’s amazing waterfalls, unique rockformations, deep valleys, Alpine meadows and groves of beautifultrees will leave you awestruck as they did Ansel Adams, who lived inthe park while taking his famous portfolio of striking photographs.Upon arrival, join your fellow travelers on an open-air tram* to viewsites such as Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and El Capitan, as well aslearn about the park's history, geology, and wildlife.

Day 4: Yosemite National Park - MontereyTravel to Monterey, the city often called the greatest meeting of land,sea and sky. Monterey is home to the famed 17 Mile Drive, alsoknown as one of the most breathtaking coastlines in the world. Alongthe drive you will pass through the Del Monte Forest and see suchfamous sights as the Lone Cypress Tree, perhaps the mostphotographed tree in the world; Seal Rock, where the seals mayactually bark at you; and the Pebble Beach Golf Course. Next, travelto Old Monterey, the place where California’s statehood began in1849, filled with lovingly restored historic buildings and Spanishadobes. An afternoon arrival will allow you time to independentlyexplore charming Old Monterey and shop at Cannery Row, madefamous by John Steinbeck. Today breakfast and dinner will beincluded.

Day 5: Monterey - SolvangJourney 90 miles along the Big Sur Coast, flanked by the Santa LuciaMountains and the sea sprayed, rocky Pacific, for a trip that will surelytake your breath away. Upon arrival in San Simeon you will visit oneof the world’s greatest showplaces, the palatial mountaintop retreat ofHearst Castle, built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst.Tour the Castle, built on a 40,000 acre ranch that Hearstfrequently camped on as a child. Now a National HistoricLandmark, Hearst was constantly building and rebuilding whathe simply called "the ranch." As a result, the estate was notcompleted during Hearst's lifetime, and was later donated to theState of California in 1957. Explore some of its 165 rooms and 127acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways. Later, arrive at thequaint Danish village of Solvang, in Santa Barbara County, known forits old-world architecture and flower-lined streets. Today breakfastand dinner will be included.

Day 6: Solvang - Santa Barbara - SolvangFounded in 1911 by a group of Danish educators, Solvang’s flowerlinedstreets and European shops and bakeries are the perfect settingfor a morning stroll. Later, you'll leave for Santa Barbara, famous forits breathtaking setting and natural beauty fused from the dramatic mixof mountains, valleys, beaches, islands and the sea. Some free timeallows you to explore the downtown area laced with pedestrianfriendlysidewalks and paseos, with the Santa Ynez Mountains as alovely backdrop. You may prefer to grab a pedicab (Santa Barbara’sanswer to the rickshaw) or hop aboard an eco-friendly electric shuttleto the waterfront area famous for Stearns Wharf which has been a partof the scene since 1872. Today breakfast will be included.

Day 7: Solvang - Los Angeles - San DiegoThis morning, continue on your coastal journey to glittering LosAngeles, the “City of Angels,” and home to Universal Studios, as wellas a host of your favorite musical and film celebrities. During yourtour of Los Angeles, visit Graumann's Chinese Theatre, wherenearly 200 movie stars have left their hand and foot prints, and seethe popular Hollywood Walk of Fame. Tonight, arrive inCalifornia's second largest city, San Diego. Known for its idealclimate, 70 miles of pristine beaches, and world-class attractions, SanDiego is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Mexico, the Anza-BorregoDesert and the Laguna Mountains. Today breakfast will be included.

Day 8: San DiegoThis morning, join a local guide for a comprehensive tour includingdowntown, the Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, Coronado Island andOld Town San Diego. The afternoon is yours to experience San Diegoat your leisure. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for dinner at a greatlocal restaurant. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.

Day 9: San Diego - Tour EndsYour tour ends today, but the memories will stay with you forever.

Trip Code:WORLDCC

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TOUR SCHEDULE:

{EH} Eastern Hills Mall

4545 Transit Rd. Williamsville NY 14221

Behind mall, by food court entrance, next to Sears, halfway to back of lot, near 2nd stop sign.PRINTABLE MAP.

{EH} Eastern Hills Mall

4545 Transit Rd. Williamsville NY 14221

Behind mall, by food court entrance, next to Sears, halfway to back of lot, near 2nd stop sign.PRINTABLE MAP.